The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-27
CRlMESAND CRIMINALS
A Tragedyin the City OF Nashville
Friday.
AN EDITOR SHOT DowNlN THE STREET

NASHVILLE, Tenn, December 24.-TSpc-
clal. Intense excitement has prevailed here
to-day over the fatal shooting of John j. Lit
TETON by Joseph e. Banks. both leading re-
publicans of the state. Trouble has been
looked for some days, as the National Review
-Littleton's paper--of December IT, con-
tanned an offensive allusion to Banks. There
was consequently little surprise, but great ex.
element when about 10 o'clock the report
came that Littleton had been shot. Soon
hundreds of people were making their way
to the scene.
As gathered from eye-witnesses, the facts
appear to be about these: Mr. Littleton was
coming from his home, on High street towards
his office. and had got as far as the door of
Howard Sebray, in Watkins institute, when
he was halloed at from across the street, and
at about the same time, the man who called
FIRED FROM THE STEPS
OF little brick house across the street. An
other shot followed quickly, Mr.. Littleton
falling and crying "Oh, Lord" several times.
Mr.. Littleton was walking along with his
hands i'll his oyercoat pockets, and as he fell
he drew his revolver, or it dropped from his
pocket. Some witnesses declare that he fired
once at Banks but others affirm that he did
not shoot at all. AS Littleton fell, Banks
stepped inside the door, got another double
barreled shot gun and fired twice more. Lit
Teton staggered to his feet and calling out,
ooh, you cowardn' started back to his home
Mr.. Daniel Ryan came to his assistance and
helped him to the gate. Litteton's strength
almost failed him when he came to the house,
aud he nearly sank. The physicians and
Father Delaney, Of the Catholic church, were
sent for. MIR. I4ittleton made his profession of
tie Catholic faith and was baptized by Father
Delaney.
As soon as the shooting was over. Banks
walked rapidly down to Cumberland alley, got
into buggy and drove 10 the jail, where he
surrendered himself. On his way to the Jail,
he called Allen Hall, who was passing, and he
accompanied him 10 the jail. Officer Hanley
happened to come up at the jail and Banks
surrendered to him. In the meantime an i'm
mense crowd had gathered about Littleton
home and the scene of the shooting. The
house from which the shooting was done is an
old brick building with two rooms above and
two below, one of the lower rooms being occu-
pied IT'S a shoe shop. In the adjoining room
Banks had awaited Littleton's appearance
since about four o'clock this morning. After
4 consultation Drs. w l.. Nichols, W. T.
Briggs and G. L. Eve decided that the wounds
were fatal, and that
LlTTLETON'S STATEMENT
should be taken. Justice Mackenzie was
summoned and Dr.. Nichols said:
''DIr. Littleton: DR.. Briggs and I consider
your wounds fatal, and L suppose you think
you viii not recover
MIR. Littleton said in firm voice: eyes, sir /:
l know that l am badly hurt"
Il was walking up the street toward my
Office, and suddenly l heard shot fred from
behind me. Quick rs thought felt shock.
That Shot felled me to the ground and sud
denly | realized that | had been wounded, and
everybody said he would shoot me in the
back. [ was on the ground. l raised my
head had a revolver, having been previously
warned of the danger. My arm was filled
with shot so that / could not
use it. The suddenness of the
Shock caused me to fall / looked
aid saw man standing III the door, OH the
upper side of the street with a gun sighted at
me. That man was Joe Banks said That
is enough; don't lire again He fred two
more loads into my legs that shocked me. He
shot me twice i'll the legs. My recollection is
that
FIVE SHOTS WERE FIRED.
] raised up and saw Joe Banks. He broke
and ran I said watch the coward run from
dead man. He ran around John Crock
reifs house with a smoking gun in his hand.
! got mp and came down the street, and meet
ing gentleman asked him to assist me home.
Then J cried, oh my wife and child' lie
gave me 10 warning. He fired twice while [
was on the ground | did not use my revolver.
/ did not haye time 10 get it out"
Justice Mackenzie then asked: "Mr. Lit
tlcton, you make this statement, believing you
are going TO die.
M. Littleton replied:
81 do"
Mir. Littleton then sent for his wife and gave
her directions for closing up his business mat
terS, being very safely poised throughout.
Banks was seen III Jail but declined to be
| interviewed. He, however, denied shooting
without warning, and said there were five shots,
four bS himself and one from Littlcton. Each
Of The four barrels he fired contained sixteen
buckshot. OF these perhaps forty entered
Littleton's body. The physicians pronounce
Littlcton 5 wounds fatal beyond a doubt.
Both the men are prominent republicans,
but belong to different sections Of the party.
III the recent municipal election Littleton was
the republican nominee for mayor, but was
bitterly opposed by the faction to which Banks
belonged and, although an Independent dem
ocrat drew largely from the democratic nomi-
neeS vote, Littlcton was defeated. In the
following issue of his paper-that of December
17-he published long article containing Sc
we're personal reflections upon some of the re-
publicans who took an active part in the anti
Kercheyal movement. In that article 7. A.
Kercheval, Frank T. Reid, J. K. Banks and
Il. T. Gregory were especially mentioned but
the seyerest animadyersion personal re-
Election were made upon Kercheval and
Banks. The reference to Mr.. Banks was as
follows:
TIE oTFlNsIyE ARTICLE.
"lut rs TO joey Banks, when did he get rcspccta.
bic" lie he'd Iot of trauClal transactions about
Nashville, which very few really res ectaDle people
nave. He is little more than gentee loafer Not
long since lie was regular patron OF tie celebrate
Park theatre and lie anne quite muohly involved
there with one OF the girls Here ne accused Banks
Of a nGmelcss immoral practice. B sides all this
joey is q little busyboly, he, a tAtler in Other
words He stands abo Il where gentlemen talk and
then goes oiTand repeats the conversation TO theii
prejudice for the purpose OF making mischief He
is generally regarded as Il tattlng misunderstanding
little loarer. lie is aware that everybody knows
the facts about him. We wonder that he does not
flee to strange and hide his face forever from the
Nashville public"
A Battle Between Outlaws and Vigilance
Committee.
OZARK, Mo-, December 24.-Almus Stone
of this city, returned from Stone county yes
terday and says that deadly warfare.is raging